# Accident 20091123051829A: Piper PA-30, Rainelle, WV, November 23, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2009, 02:34 local time
- Place: Rainelle, WV
- Airport: Rainelle
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0583° N, 80.8025° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0583&lon=-80.8025&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8923Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8923Y-2017-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,672 total, 8 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091123051829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N3923Y, A PIPER PA-30, DEPARTED KENNETT MEMORIAL AIRPORT (TKX), KENNETT, MISSOURI ON 11/22/2009 ENROUTE TO TO STAFFORD REGIONAL AIRPORT (RMN), STAFFORD, VIRGINIA. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION AND WAS REPORTED AS MISSING ON 11/28/2009 TO THE AIR FORCE RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER. ON 12/01/2009, N8923Y, WAS LOCATED ON A RIDGE IN A WOODED REMOTE AREA IN GREENBRIER COUNTY, IN THE VICINITY OF RAINELLE, WV (WV30). THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA10FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA088), Nov 23, 2009: Piper PA-30 (N8923Y), Raneille, WV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt visual flight into deteriorating night weather conditions, and his subsequent controlled flight into terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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